Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Medical boards are not addressing the problems within their own profession

By Karel Lyons - posted Monday, 31 March 2003


And they will continue to treat and perform surgery upon their patients.

To put these figures into perspective, from a pool of at least 5,000 impaired Australian doctors, our medical boards have less than 500 currently under monitoring.

Surely such apathy and denial impacts negatively upon the health of their affected doctors.

Advertisement

Failure by our medical boards to openly address the issues of doctors' psychiatric or addiction illnesses infers an occupational stigma and shame which says more about the mentality of the boards themselves than their impaired members.

According to a British medical study undertaken on this subject, 60 per cent of all doctors reported to their medical boards for disciplinary action had problems involving alcohol, drugs, or both.

In addition, US research has shown that five to six per cent of physicians account for more than 50 per cent of all medical negligence litigation. These tended to be impaired, under-performing, and re-offending physicians.

These high-risk doctors undeniably perpetuate an enormous liability for medical insurers.

But it is not the insurers who hold the authority to remove these high-risk doctors from patient contact. Only the medical boards and their practitioner tribunals can accomplish this.

Sure, the insurers know the identity of our impaired and 'frequent flyer' physicians. It is they who are meeting the repeated awards and settlements to the aggrieved plaintiff/patients of these doctors.

Advertisement

And it is the medical insurance industry, and our best and most competent doctors, who are carrying the can for the ostrich mentality of our medical boards, by way of increased indemnity premiums for all doctors, and not just the industry's under-performers.

It stands to reason that if five percent of impaired and under-performing physicians account for fifty percent of all medical litigation, this offending five percent should be removed from all patient contact and diagnostic screening; thereby reducing overall medical litigation by half.

The current medical insurance circus has seen medical associations blaming governments; governments blaming insurers for poor investment choices; insurers and doctors blaming patients and lawyers for litigious mentalities; and patients blaming insurers and doctors for fiscal greed and poor work practices.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. 3
  5. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

1 post so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Karel Lyons is Manager of Patient Injury Support & Advocacy.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Karel Lyons
Related Links
Doctors Reform Society
Patient Injury Support and Advocacy
Article Tools
Comment 1 comment
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy